Malawi Female Labor Participation
Female labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS
Malawi's female labor participation was 58.18% in 2025, ranked 58th globally. This represents a 0.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Malawi's female labor participation stood at 58.18% in 2025, a decline of +0.35pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 58.15% by 2026. Malawi ranked 58th globally.
Malawi’s female labor‑force participation has fallen sharply over the 36‑year span covered, slipping from its all‑time peak of 78.35 % in 1990 to a trough of 58.18 % in 2025, placing the country 58th globally. This 20.17‑percentage‑point decline reflects persistent structural constraints, including limited access to formal employment, lower educational attainment for women, and a high burden of unpaid household work that intensifies during agricultural cycles. The 2025 figure is closely aligned with peers such as Haiti (58.34 %) and Albania (58.57 %), underscoring that Malawi now shares a similar labor‑market position with nations facing comparable development challenges. While the downward trajectory suggests entrenched barriers, policy interventions that expand vocational training, improve childcare provision, and promote gender‑responsive labor regulations could stabilize or even reverse the decline, offering a modest prospect for higher female participation in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Female Labor Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 57.86% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 58.01% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 58.15% | - | - |
| 2025 | 58.18% | −0.35pp | #58 |
| 2024 | 58.53% | −0.11pp | #56 |
| 2023 | 58.64% | −0.11pp | #57 |
| 2022 | 58.75% | −0.04pp | #57 |
| 2021 | 58.79% | −4.34pp | #52 |
| 2020 | 63.13% | +4.10pp | #28 |
| 2019 | 59.03% | +0.13pp | #52 |
| 2018 | 58.90% | +0.12pp | #50 |
| 2017 | 58.77% | −1.74pp | #49 |
| 2016 | 60.51% | −1.72pp | #43 |
| 2015 | 62.23% | −1.69pp | #33 |
| 2014 | 63.92% | −1.66pp | #28 |
| 2013 | 65.57% | −1.62pp | #27 |
| 2012 | 67.19% | −1.58pp | #22 |
| 2011 | 68.77% | −1.72pp | #22 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw female labor participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's female labor participation was 58.18% in 2025. Ranked 58th globally. This represents a 0.6% decrease from the previous year.
Malawi's female labor participation peaked at 78.35% in 1990.
The lowest female labor participation in Malawi was 58.18% in 2025.
Malawi ranks 58th globally in female labor participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malawi's female labor participation is projected to reach 58.15% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The female labor participation of Malawi in 2025 was 58.18%. This ranks 58th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_female-labor-participation,
title = {Malawi Female Labor Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/female-labor-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}